Kevin Haskin: Dumb technical a reason for K-State to gain mean streak

ST. LOUIS – Kansas State came into the locker room for its final pregame instructions Friday and heard a different message.

How to play basketball from behind before any time ticked off the clock in Scottrade Center.

That, and their coach expressing his affinity for the reserve who drew a technical foul for dunking the basketball in pregame warmups – the reason why K-State faced a deficit before play ever began against Kentucky.

“Coach (Chris) Lowery said, ‘Hey, when you became a head coach, back in 1998, you probably would have went crazy and ripped up the locker room,’’’ K-State coach Bruce Weber said when asked his reaction upon learning the over-officious ruling.

“I just felt bad for Brian Rohleder. He had tears in his eyes when he came in the locker room. I told him, ‘I love him, it’s no big deal, we’ve got to move forward and it’s not going to be the difference in the game.’’’

True. Kentucky made one free throw, retained possession, then committed a turnover. K-State came down and got a bucket from Thomas Gipson to go ahead, but scoring got more difficult as the game progressed. Kentucky smothered K-State, 56-49.

Kinda makes you wonder what is important in the college basketball rules book.

Touch fouls on the perimeter. Block calls on set defenders. Permission to travel constantly.

And now, a technical on a 6-foot-3 walk-on from Wichita. As a mechanical engineering major, Rohleder can probably inform you about the physical properties involved in dunking a ball better than he can explain how he jumped high enough to catch the refs’ attention during warmups.

“One of our coaches said, ‘It’s not a joke, they just called a T on him,’’’ Weber recalled. “The guys all hugged Brian and told him, ‘We’re fine.’

“That wasn’t the difference in the game, but it’s disappointing. I understand they’ve got rules, but the head dude’s got to have some common sense too. Of course, that’s just my opinion. I’ve just coached 35 years, so I don’t know anything.’’

Not so. Weber knew enough about the game, and his team, to guide the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament after a bleak beginning to the season.

The second-year K-State coach blended a handful of upperclassmen with a freshman class that grew impressive behind Marcus Foster.

Weber had only two authentic big men. Neither was practicing at the end of the season because of injuries. D.J. Johnson played only sparingly against Kentucky because he broke his foot.

The matchup with UK was hardly a good one for K-State because of the length and athleticism possessed by John Calipari’s young club. If sufficiently engaged and efficient on Sunday, Kentucky poses the most difficult threat undefeated Wichita State has faced this season.

Makes you wonder if Weber might be a little too nice to command respect from refs, particularly a crew that does not work in the Big 12.

Think about it. K-State did not get foul calls, was assessed a rare pregame technical and then got a second T on Shane Southwell after he appeared to get fouled and was tagged by an official some 30 feet away.

Does Calipari get the same kind of treatment? Not this time. The crew set a tone before tipoff – oops, there was no tipoff – that had to be disconcerting for K-State.

“Honestly, I was pissed,’’ Gipson said. “You never see that happen. You can give us a warning. It’s not for me to say anything, but they didn’t announce themselves, they didn’t walk over, they didn’t say, ‘We’re here now,’ or anything like that.’’

Just, tweet, a cheap T.

If anything, K-State needs to carry whatever anger it felt from that call – to begin an NCAA Tournament game, no less – and use it as motivation in the offseason. Gipson happens to be the primary leader who returns as a senior.

“I need to make sure we inspire each other to work hard in the weight room,’’ he said, “and work hard in conditioning, take our work in the gym seriously and hold each other accountable.’’

Despite shedding pounds and making himself one of the most improved players in the Big 12, Gipson still looks forceful enough to put a mean streak into the Wildcats.

With that quality, there’s less chance they’ll be distressed over a dumb technical for a warmup dunk, or a foul differential favoring an NCAA blueblood.

Something to consider after starting a game watching an opponent shoot free throws.